I'm going to create a product and see how it would flourish or fail in today's economy. This product? Jay Cutler Shoe Tying.

Basically, people pay absurd amounts of money to have Jay Cutler tie their shoes for them. Each shoe tying session costs whatever Jay deems a reasonable amount. In some cases the collector on site will even let the fan decide. When an avid stalker fan of Jay's was asked what she'd pay for a Jay Cutler Shoe Tying she responded "Seven thousand dollars and the name of my unborn child..." Whoa Jay, can you say economy stimulated?  This offer seems like it's only geared toward Bears fans or Jay Cutler fans. However, upon request we can have those two boys, from that show on Nickelodeon that you thought was hilarious when you were ten, come and sing songs to you while you look deeply into their extremely beautiful eyes, AND HAVE JAY CUTLER TIE YOUR SHOES!!

 

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, we remembered how much you love Civil War Generals, so here you go, take McClellan-- free of charge.

 

 

****

I had way too much fun with this. Essentially this resembles the want people have, regardless of whether or not we're in a recession, for useless things. This completely asinine idea fueled by my wonderfully creative imagination, could probably be a real thing if Jay Cutler wasn't such a butt face. Snuggies, Pajama Jeans, Slushie Magic, Pillow Pets. All ridiculously stupid and successful ideas, because people like stupid things. I have two Snuggies. Why do I have two Snuggies? Because I can, and because I'm attracted to things that I not only do not need, but things that have no point. As long as there are people out there crafting things like the items listed above, then America's economy will always have hope.

 

This is the last photoshopped image I promise...

I'm done!

~Margaret

 

 

 

 

Meghan and I explain PPC charts in the most exciting way possible.

A few years ago I received the most wonderful gift from my Dad. My JVC camcorder. I use it all the time, it's wonderful. However, the software it came with is not. PowerDirector Express was the original software. I used that for about a year before I got my bearings with the whole movie editing thing. It worked, but it lacked a lot of the simple effects I desired. Like titles, and a black and white effect. Both of which are basic effects that video software has. The following Christmas I upgraded to PowerDirector 9. Only to find that not only did it still lack the simplistic black and white filter, but it had some serious glitches. I couldn't make DVD, a feature proudly displayed on CyberLink's website. And I have lost several movies (hours of cutting clips, adding transitions and music) to this program. I believe Meghan O'Toole can vouch for me when I say it's frustrating. She's has sat through many rants about this damn program. During the first few weeks of using this software I found all of those defects and complained to my father about them. The program had cost around sixty dollars which is an obscene amount of money to pay for something that doesn't work. I went to the internet forums to see if others were having the same problems, and they were. Someone mentioned a patch offered by CyberLink to fix the program and included a link. The only problem? It cost an additional twenty dollars. I wasn't going to pay another twenty bucks to fix something that came broken. So I powered through the angst caused by this damn video editing software until now. Now, I'm fed up.

My family just got a new computer. It's amazing and all of that. My father bought the software package offered with the computer. It came with a transfer disc to get things from our old computer, photoshop, and PowerDirector 10. A step up from my old software. Which I never actually got a hard copy of, so it's gone forever along with our  monster computer. The next version is obviously better than the one that came before it, right? Wrong. I used it for the first time last night, and after importing my video files guess what popped up on the screen. A notification saying that I needed another piece of software in order to have sound on my movie clips. I clicked on the link given to me thinking it'd be this free software. I have this habit of underestimating CyberLink's ability to screw people over because that shit software was going to cost me an additional seventy dollars. I was not in the mood to yell at my computer last night so I downloaded the trial version of PowerDirector 11. Still the same crappy software, but this one came with two whole title templates in 3-D. So it's basically word art on my movie. I had to edit a video for my sister because she wasn't able to come home for Thanksgiving this year and I wanted to say that I missed her. The titles didn't really matter. I finished editing the whole thing and uploaded it to Youtube, only to find that this trial program watermarked my video. Right above Storytime With Lincoln & McClellan it says "CyberLink PowderDirector Trial Version."

This business has not only stolen money from me, with it's accompaniment of the JVC camcorder and general simplicity, but from other people as well. They correct the problems with other products you're forced to buy if you want to be able to use the feature affected. It's frustrating, especially if you don't have the money to buy the patches. But this is how our economy works. How it's "stimulated." Americans are notoriously wasteful. It's who we are as a whole, and probably a contributing factor in why most of the world hates us. Would a person with a steady income think twice about purchasing a twenty dollar patch in order to participate a hobby they enjoy? No. Would someone whose income is currently nonexistent? Yes, and they're the ones who have to suffer because the company couldn't get it right the first time. It's completely backwards.

~Margaret

Illinois is a Democratic state. There's no denying that. The other day I realized how much that warps the minds of my peers. Kids are told one side of the argument by teachers, family members, and local media. Unless they have people in their lives rooting for the otherside. If they don't really care, which think about it, at age seven did you really care about politics? No, these children just go with what their "advisors" say, not bothering to do research on other people's view points.

If someone has one set of views promoted by their peers, their teachers, their family, everyone surrounding them, then who are they worrying about offending? No one, because they already have this completely onesided idea of "politcal correctness" in their minds.

People claim Conservatives need to be more open minded, tolerant and accepting. Acceptance works both ways. Recently, Tim Tebow had to trademark his "tebowing" image because people were using it to mock him and his faith. Some may argue that it's the equivalent to the celebration dance most athletes participate in after a great play. Those players dance to celebrate themselves and their teammates. Praying is to celebrate a Creator. Something or someone far greater than any human. Something or someone that deserves respect regardless or whether or not you believe. Quite frankly, I admire Tim Tebow for sticking up not only for himself, but for God too. When people watch others get down on one knee to pretend to pray to God, and take pictures to Instagram, sticking up for what you believe is right, is hard to do.


Comedians, televisions shows, everyday people make jokes about "tebowing" and Tebow. Like being religious is some sort of strupid trend to be ridiculed. What would happen if I mocked homosexuality? I would be verbally hanged by the administration at Fremd. There would be possible suspension and an apology I didn't mean would have to made. But everyone else can go right ahead and mock God, and Conservatives are suppose to take it. We're suppose to be tolerant. Whereas anyone with a different opinion can say whatever the hell they want.

Please, dear Liberals, tell me how that's equality.

~Margaret

FACTS!!!


I'll be the first person to admit that I sounded insane last night when I made that post about Christmas. But, I did have a point, television is regulated by the federal government. Commercials are considered television, therefore me blaming the government for the commercialization of Christmas isn't complete insanity! Oh, if you don't believe the words uttered from my mouth, feel free to check out these two fancy schmancy websites:

http://law.freeadvice.com/intellectual_property/communications_law/television_regulated_radio.htm

http://chnm.gmu.edu/exploring/20thcentury/regulatingtelevision/index.php

Facts! Boom.

This has been the story about how the government stole Christmas...

~Margaret

I realize that my last post was really just a rant about government, and it probably made no sense. I'm going to be writing a facts post later today, to back up what I was saying. It wasn't just nonsense, I promise.

~Margaret

Yes, I've already started listening to Christmas music and Halloween hasn't even happened yet. If you will humor me and listen to this song while reading this post, it would be greatly appreciated.


Michael Bublé is fantastic, there really is no discussing that because it's an undeniable fact. This song is originally sung by Mariah Carey, unless she stole/covered it. I prefer this version, but that's not really relevant to what I'm trying to get at.

It's October 21 and I'm already listening  to music meant for a holiday fifty-nine days away. I saw a commercial with Christmas elves in it the other day. What is the point in all of this?

Stimulating the economy of course!

Quite frankly, I'm pissed. This isn't even a holiday about buying presents or stupid (admittedly catchy) songs about loving someone on Christmas, it's about celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO! The government has turned this holy holiday into something so commercial and fake that it's actually making me shake with frustration.

Post-Thanksgiving time is now for spending because Christmas is the time of giving? Even though it's definitely not. Granted that's definitely a perk, but it's not even the point of the holiday. Black Friday shopping and gifts that mean nothing. That's what Christmas has turned into. You can try and blame Halmark all you want, but the government is the one sponsoring all of this. They start putting out Christmas ads the day after Halloween. 

To what? Promote Christianity? That's not it. To promote their own personal agenda? Bingo. This way the politicians don't have to suffer through lacking bonuses. They get to enjoy their holidays knowing they practically brainwashed the American people. Congratulations politicians, and happy holidays from my family to yours, you caniving bastards.

~Margaret

 

Sweet, I got the video to embed!

Watch it.

                                              Meghan and I are running for president.

~Margaret

The Checks and Balances system is what keeps the United States government in line. Checks and Balances keeps other important aspects of our lives in line too.

Take The Avengers for example. An absolutely crucial part of (my) everyday life. How do these extraordinary people keep themselves in functioning order? Checks and Balances. Hawkeye and Black Widows make sure the other is safe and that they don't kill someone without purpose, because they're madly in love (they just won't admit it.) Iron Man and Captain America stop each other from being too self absorbed, or too technologically inept which makes them almost even on the playing field. Lastly there is Thor. He is the only Avenger capable of using force to control the Hulk, in the hope of calming him down into Bruce Banner. It works the same way for Thor, the Hulk is the only one who is strong enough to actually physically force him to do something. These people all depend on one another to form their team and because of that there is no defined leader. It is unnecessary because they all have to agree on something in order to make the final decision.

This amazing team only works because there's always someone looking out for another. Someone always has their teammate's back in case they stray. Problems can be corrected before they go too far. The same way that the legislative, judicial and executive branches keep each other in check. Discussing, deciding, voting and vetoing the things that are best for America, and best for her people.

~Margaret

         This is half of an episode of the Tyra Banks show. I found it while meandering through youtube. You should watch all four parts, seriously.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq_YMzx3M10&feature=related Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJZBviaMfE4&feature=relmfu Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6olZPwc68xU&feature=relmfu Part Three
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbDLoh7bEVM&feature=relmfu Part Four

         After I finished watching these all I could think was “holy shit.” There really was no eloquent way to put my shock. This girl was fifteen years old, she was engaged to an eighteen year old boy. By the way, that’s pedophilia, and he needs to be registered as a sex offender. Kaitlin/Katelyn/whatever’s mom was promoting that relationship. He was living under her mom’s roof with her, and they slept in the same bed! Which would inevitably lead to sex, which as said by Kaitlin/Katelyn/whatever they took part in twice a day everyday.

          

          This video made me think back to the interview with Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu we watched in class. He was talking about how wrong child marriage is, and how he was fighting to stop it in South Africa. And this little girl, Kaitlin/Katelyn/whatever, was so willing to throw that right to enjoy the innocence and freedom of her youth away for some equally as naive boy. She was even trying to get pregnant. Like having a kid would make everything better. The fertility drugs she was taking to try and make that baby happen probably destroyed her body so she won’t even be able to have a kid when she’s ready. Little girls all over the world are fighting for the rights of age restriction on marriage, and making their husbands wear condoms or using birth control. This girl was like “Nope, we’re going to get married and love each other forever and ever and EVER.” When she could barely use proper grammar. It was frustrating after watching all those people die for their daughter’s innocence, to see this girl throw away all of that. She didn’t even realize the privilege she had in choosing to get married. Because if she did, if she was half as mature as she was saying she was, she wouldn’t have accepted that proposal.
          In the end you find out she doesn’t have a Dad. Which is absolutely not a reason to consider getting married at fifteen. I don’t care if your entire family is dead and you’re being raised by a fox. Getting married at fifteen doesn’t happen. Some people don’t have a choice, that doesn’t mean you should take advantage of yours and do something stupid.

~Margaret